Category Archives: Nature

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So I finally took the first steps to building a backyard garden. Albeit they are baby steps. We bought 2 sweet basil plants. For now they are hanging out in their default plastic planters and with their original nutrient rich soil. I have big plans from these small beginnings.

Tulips from the Hubz

Find [kid friendly] planter(s) with good drainage

Buy more herbs (cilantro and dill for sure) and tomato seedlings

Move all plants to their new home planters (which I heard is a process)

For now the plants are sitting on our coffee table because the family room has the most light in the house. I’ve been monitoring the soil and the overall “hefty-ness” of the planter to judge how much water is needed (at the advice of the lady in the Lowes garden centre).

We had a quieter than expected halloween this year. Only me and the little miss dressed up, no pumpkin patch, couldn’t find most of my halloween decor and we didn’t even get to carve a pumpkin (thanks in part to the Mister’s school and all the other festivals happening at this time of year).

Buuuttt that doesn’t mean I can’t have any pumpkins in my life :)

An avocado and a little horse wangler (horse wrangler aka cow girl!!)

Captured these interesting looking jack-os at the grocery store – how do they even get like this?

Annnddd a little throwback to last year :) Anyone else ready to chuck out the rest of this year’s halloween stash of candy??

We spent a SHORT three days and two nights out in Bruce Peninsula at a few Yurts “glamping” it up with some friends. I think travelling is by far the greatest gift your can experience with your family. But now I think camping (or glamping) is something worth doing every summer.

I was most shocked by how much Miss S liked it. We all know travelling with kids is work (and honestly you need a vacation from your vacation after most family trips) but this was kind of easier. I mean the fresh air helped to get them tired, they were constantly entertained either by nature, the free roaming animals (a chipmunk and a turkey we named “Gobi) or by the new foods they were eating from the grill. There were other kids to play with (from neighbouring yurts) or they literally just sat back and RELAXED.

Wanted to share a few (albeit grainy iPhone) photos and hope to share some edited ones from the DSLR but for now I’ll leave with…

4 important reasons to camp with your kids:

They get to play outside and appreciate nature: we do a lot of outdoor play during the summer months, from the park to open fields (near our parks), splash pads, water towers, baby pools and even the good old street we live on. But nothing compares to being out in nature with the smell of the trees and the taste of food cooked over fire (or BBQ in the case of glamping). Almost immediately, you’ll see the kids want to inspect different plants and insects and your hands will be full holding the treasures they find.

They will learn something new: I used to girl guide and so I really appreciate the idea of being able to learn a new skill and get a badge for it. When you take your kids camping, they will do things that they don’t normally do. For Miss S that was helping out and being more self sufficient – which for her age is a great skill to master.

They get more Freedom: It’s much easier to let the kids play while they are away. I mean because The hubz tells me at one point, Miss S was peering over the ledge leading up to our Yurt, leaned over a little too much, flipped over and fell on her butt! (Mind you I had no idea this even happened). She moaned a little and then found some interesting things to play with. The kids were free to roam as they please which allowed for more independence and freedom from the watchful eyes and safety of the parents – which I think is definitely needed sometimes.

They get a break from routine: Take a scrub down in the lake – no prob! (Miss S gave herself an exfoliation treatment there), Nap during a hike on Pops shoulder – sure why not! Mind you I love routine (because I get to keep my sanity) but for a few days – we let is slide.

Have you gone camping/glamping with your kids? Would you try it? Or totally against it?

Last weekend was pretty busy as expected. We literally drove from the west end to downtown and back again before heading North to our home. We had to attend a kid’s birthday, drop off Miss S for babysitting (with my parents), attend an engagement brunch and then hustle back to pick up Miss S because she was a hot mess (ahhh 2 year molars) before we headed back home. Sunday I spent the day volunteering at a soup kitchen. It was my first time but something I’ve wanted do since my late 20’s. This soup kitchen in particular operates restaurant style, patrons pay a dollar*, they are given a ticket, they find a table/seat and then they are served by a waiter/waitress. I helped to prepare the serviette package, rice, salad and then I waitressed! I’ve never worked in a restaurant before so this was an interesting experience for sure!
*Side note: to allow for the feeling of dignity

And then yesterday, I met with some of my friends for an “inter-friend-tion”. I don’t know how people feel in these situations, but I felt nervous and nonchalant at the same time. Without giving too much detail, we were meeting with this old/past friend who had been absent for the last year and a half. It is heart breaking but at the same time a relief: to make sure she is “ok” but also to not have that topic of her being MIA hanging over our heads. The outcome wasn’t as expected but we are all adults and in control of our own lives – we just have to do what’s best for us and live the best life we can.

Oh and I’ll keep the updated list here (because I am sure more will come to mind) with links to where you can find the completed item.

Hot Air balloons
Planes Close up
Film Camera
Spinning Ferris Wheel
Child Jumping in puddle
Night Sky movement
A celebrity
Pride
Panda
Iceland Waterfall
San Francisco Bridge
Macro of a snowflake
Portrait of a Geisha
Under the Pier shot
A lone tree in a field
Self-Portrait (Tripod and remote is a must)
Lightening
Water drops on a spider web
Toronto Christmas Fair
Eiffel Tower at Night
Eiffel Tower during the day
Shanghai and/or Tokyo Skyline

Do you have a bucket list? Do you find it helps you reach your goals to write a list of them? Send me a link to your bucket list in the comments below!